Receiving the news via ultrasound, or even more abruptly at birth, that your baby will have clubfoot can be a overwhelming. Thoughts of surgeries and multiple trips to the doctor start to stir in your brain. Overcome with worry and stress, the last thing on your mind is clothing for your new baby. Why would this be yet another thing to worry about?

The treatment widely recognized and used is the Ponseti method, developed by Dr. Ignacio Ponseti to treat clubfoot in a non-invasive manner through a series of casts and bracing. For parents of children completing this treatment program finding clothing items that fit on legs in casts or pajamas that work with a nighttime foot brace becomes a concern. Traditional "sleep 'n play" type pajamas with the cute "footies" are off limits with the orthotic device. Thankfully, through trial and error, the parents of clubfoot children have found what works and what does not.

So, what type of clothing really works for clubfoot kids in treatment?

Casting Phase

• Snap-up or zip-up sleep & plays with or without feet (the key is that you need to be able to change a diaper quickly and effortlessly)
• Loose-fitting pants or shorts
• Dresses or skirts for girls
• Sleep gowns
• Sleep sacks/Swaddlers
• Legwarmers or tall socks (Casts are ugly, OK? And, many parents just can’t handle the constant stares and questions at the grocery store about what injury their child received. These are a cute way to cover up the cast and also help with chaffing)

23/7 Brace Wear Phase

• Snap-up or zip-up sleep & plays WITHOUT FEET in them (Sorry, the cute little footed sleepers are not compatible with brace wear. The shoe won’t fit right over the footed part and even if it does, your child’s foot will likely get too hot/sweaty and also they can create creases in the fabric, which actually hurts your child as it presses into their skin)
• Snap-up crotch pants are nice to have, but not a must. They just make diaper changes a lot quicker, as you won’t need to remove the bar. If you have the quick release bar (most do) it’s just as quick, but it sure is fun having a “handle” on your baby! =)
• Dresses or skirts for girls
• Sleep gowns
• Sleep sacks (swaddling is very difficult at this stage, but it can be done)
• Good socks….I mean REALLY good socks. Do NOT skimp on this!! Your child will be wearing shoes for 23 hours all day, every day for a few months. Unless you want to deal with blisters on top of an already uncomfortable baby, you’ll spend every cent you have on good socks! There are some tried & true brands and styles the clubfoot community has found, and you can find those here.

Nighttime Only or Naps & Nighttime Brace Wear Phase

• Snap-up or zip-up sleepers WITHOUT FEET to wear when brace is to be warn.
• Sleep gowns
• Good socks Again, you want are shooting for comfort here to avoid blisters, but also they need to be thin and breathable.
• Most “normal” pajamas The sleep & plays generally only go up to size 12 months, sometimes a little bigger if you’re lucky, but at this point, your child can wear any type of pajamas except those with feet in them. You’ll just have to remember what order to dress them in for bed =) e.g. change diaper, pants on, then brace.

You can find these items and other tips for clothing your baby through the treatment process at the Clubfoot Closet.